I can't believe I practically assaulted him—in the Ministry, no less! I walk to the lifts almost in a sprint as my cheeks redden. People stop and stare; logically, I know it's because I haven't been seen at work since my accident but, a part of me feels like my thoughts are written across my forehead.

Once I reach the lobby, I grab Astoria and shove us into the closest floo and whisk us away into the library.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Astoria coughs out. "Did something happen?"

"I – uh – thanked him a bit more generously than I planned... for 'From The Ashes.' Not to mention, we don't have house-elves, and he helped me push for better laws for other elves. All you and I talked about today really just came forward when I saw him,"

I smiled to myself as I continued.

"I had no idea all he's done for me over the years we've been together. He never tried to throw it in my face after I lost my memory. There was no 'look what I've done,' which leads me to believe he indeed did all of them because he supports me in whatever I want instead of doing them to win me over."

She fingers the spine of a book. "Well, I can assure you, dear Draco is madly in love with you. He'd do anything that he thought might make the world a place worthy of you to live in."

I hardly notice another 'dear Draco' from Astoria, as my mind was spinning around 'madly in love with you.'

"I really must be going, dear. It was simply lovely to spend today with you." She grips my hand softly. "I've missed my friend."

She turns and floos out. I make my way to my room as I think of all the things Astoria told me of today. Of all the charity events, galas, meetings that Draco and I have hosted. How he came up with 'From The Ashes' and how helpful that would've been when I was eleven. My parents were often unsure of what to do and what was going on.

I can hardly believe the laws he's helped me get passed regarding house-elves. Someone who grew up with house-elves was willing to see they get better working conditions, as well as making it illegal to beat them or require they beat themselves. Even my best friends weren't that interested in S.P.E.W., yet here was Draco Malfoy, of all people, making a real difference in the world in honor of me.

I make my way into my closet, fingering the different dresses there. I reach one in particular, strapless, floor-length, and red, with a gentle slit up the side. I wasn't sure if I'd ever owned anything so sophisticated, and I wondered if I'd ever worn this gown yet.

I pull the dress out of the closet and hold it up to me in the floor-length mirror. A memory snaps seemingly out of nowhere to the front of my mind.

I look over the ballroom as I make my way slowly down the stairs. Ever the gentleman, my boyfriend is waiting for me at the bottom. He offers his arm and kisses my cheek.

"You look stunning." He whispers in my ear.

I mingle with the packed crowd as, suddenly, fire shoots off from the stage. There are gasps of surprise from around the room that turns into applause as Draco makes his way up.

"Welcome all to what will hopefully become an annual event! Tonight launches a program I've been working on extensively. So dig deep in your pockets," he chuckles. "because you're going to want to be apart of history here. Introducing, 'From The Ashes' a non-profit program to better integrate muggle-borns and their families into the wizarding community."

Applause rings from around the room, and I'm clapping viciously. Tears stream down my face as he makes his way to me again. My mouth catches him, and I murmur, "I love you, Draco Malfoy."

"I love you, too, Hermione. No muggle-born should ever have to endure what you have ever again."

My lip splits under the pressure of my teeth, and I taste blood as the memory tumbles forward. I mutter a simple healing charm, then stare at the dress. I was wearing this when our program launched.

I love you, Draco Malfoy.

I gasp at what this means. It's not all gone! I try to push for more, but nothing else comes. Elation turns to frustration, but I can see it now. In all the ways, I would've loved him. I would have loved him deeply. As if he were forever engrained a part of me. It would have felt as natural as breathing as if life with him was always the only outcome.

I think of all the ways he ever hurt me. My tears as he taught me what it meant to be a muggle-born in the wizarding community. Of how his actions as an indoctrinated child shaped the ways he wanted to change the future and to prevent any future muggle-borns from those feelings.

I shove the dress back into the closet and wander into the library to sit and give my mind a rest. After my mind proves too active to be on its own, I decide to floo call Ginny. A moment later, she walks in with James in tow.

"Is everything okay, Hermione?"

She looks at me with soft suspicion from the urgency in my voice when I called. Just as I'm about to delve into the explanation and meaning of my memory, I falter.

"I just – wanted a friendly face— new place, and all." I smile sheepishly. "Well, not technically new but all the same. I – uh missed my best friend. Do I need more reason than that?"

"Right. Of course, you don't, silly."

I can tell she's not buying it, but she lets the matter go as she rushes to pull the first edition out of James' toddler clutches. She transfigures a couple of paperweights into suitable enough toys and takes up residence in Draco's chair. I wring my hands together, taking refuge in my own armchair, tucking my legs beneath me.

"Astoria told me about 'From the Ashes'."

The statement hangs between us.

"Things really have changed and... – Oh, Ginny! I feel so lost and conflicted. I want to give in to this life, to trust myself. On the other hand, how am I to trust someone I don't know who's - who's.. gone! It's nothing like I imagined at all, but it's not so terrible. Not really."

Ginny reaches for my hand, and I'm relieved there isn't a trace of pity in her face.

"Hermione, you may be the 'Brightest Witch of Our Age,' but sometimes you think too much."

She giggles to let me know it's a lighthearted tease. I contemplate, once again, of telling her about the memory but decide against it. If I remember one, there's no telling how much they'll push for me to remember more. We steer into other topics like how Valmai Morgan, a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies, punched a fan who grabbed her ass.

"…knocked one of his teeth out!" Ginny exclaims, laughing.

The floo sounds, and Draco exits, brushing soot off his robes. I cross the room and bring my lips to his as Ginny raises a brow, collecting James and says her farewell. Draco wraps his arms around me, and I find comfort in his embrace. I breathe in the smell of him – juniper and mandarin, today. He sighs,

"I've missed you."

"I-" I panic and instead say, "I hope you had a good day."

He smiles a genuine smile that causes his teeth to flash, and it lights up his face.

"I did. Honestly," Draco lets out a gush of air. "And you don't need to feel obligated over anything Astoria told you today. Our programs will be taken care of, you need not worry." He ends, rubbing his neck as his cheeks tinged pink.

"Thank you, Draco. I have my follow up Friday. I got an owl today about it. Would you like to come?"

He nods in agreement as he leans down to kiss my forehead.

"No, really, you should go in. My appointment isn't until after lunch. Go, get some work done, then we can go together." I say as I smooth out Draco's pinstriped robes. "Otherwise, you'll drive me crazy by pacing all morning."

He brushes his lips against my cheek, saying he loves me just as he has before work all week. He makes his way to the floo, giving me one last smile before he's whisked away in a whirl of emerald flames.

My morning is spent curled up in my chair in the library before I head down to make some lunch. Once I set my dishes to clean themselves, I decide to make way to my study, hopeful that after today, I'll be back in the running for Minister.

My hand skims a shelf, and I cast a cleaning charm over the room to remove the small layer of dust that has accumulated in my absence. Scanning the titles and framed pictures of varying stages of my life upon my shelves, I flip through some stacks files on my desk, mostly reports and poll numbers. I shuffle through my drawers before I come to one that won't budge.

"Alohomora,"

My curiosity spikes when it doesn't unlock. Why would I place an advanced locking charm on a drawer in my own home office? I perform several more advanced unlocking spells before it finally opens.

It's completely empty aside from a few scraps of parchment. Feeling uneasy, I lick my lips and glance around the room. The top letter simply says,

You've been warned.

I've been warned? Was I- was I being threatened?

I shuffle through the others, all just as vague as the last.

You just won't listen, will you? Think of Draco, it would be such a shame.

If you know as much as you claim you do, you'll step back.

You have your discrimination laws. I'd quit while I was ahead if I were you.

My hands shake as the weight of what this means hits me. It's not over. I've been targeted. Why would I not have reported this? I feel queasy, and I think of Draco. Does he know? Have they threatened him as well? My breathing turns wild as my brain tries to process what today's results will bring to fruition. Can I really just walk away from all I've ever wanted? I glance back to the vague threats.

"There you are!"